The Art of Continuity: Just Post A Shorter Episode Instead
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Hi guys! It's me, AiTommy✨️
Consistency is often framed as a test of willpower, something that requires grinding through exhaustion and pushing yourself to the limit.
But that mindset can quickly lead to burnout. If you have a theater performance tomorrow, you gotta go to bed and rest, instead of worrying about posting another podcast episode or blog post.
...yeah that's me.
Today, I’d like to share a gentler and more sustainable approach to consistency. One that doesn’t rely on massive effort or dramatic discipline, but instead on the smallest possible actions taken repeatedly.
The Reality of Limited Time
We all have seasons when life feels full.
As I write this, I’m preparing for a theater performance happening today's afternoon. My schedule is tight, and my energy is limited. I had a choice: skip posting altogether and wait for a “better” time, or create something shorter that keeps my rhythm intact.
I chose the second option.
This is a common dilemma for artists and creators. If we can’t dedicate three full hours to something, we convince ourselves it isn’t worth starting at all. But this all-or-nothing thinking is often what breaks long-term consistency.
1. The Power of the Minimum Action
The key to staying consistent is lowering the barrier to entry.
Take journaling as an example. Many people stop writing in a diary because they feel pressured to produce thoughtful, meaningful reflections every night. That works for a few days... then exhaustion sets in.
Here's a more sustainable approach: allow yourself to write a single sentence on low-energy days.
“Today was fine.”
“That meeting was stressful.”
“I was sleepy all day.”
You can always write more if you feel inspired. But your baseline should be simple enough that you cannot fail.
Consistency thrives when the starting point feels almost too easy.
2. Sincerity Over Perfection
There’s an important difference between being careless and being strategically imperfect.
Publishing a shorter podcast episode or sharing a quick sketch isn’t about lowering standards. It’s about protecting your long-term ability to keep going.
If I sacrificed sleep to create a perfectly polished 20-minute episode during a busy week, I might feel proud in the moment. But I would be damaging the one resource that truly matters: my health and energy.
Sustainability means showing up in a way that supports your future self.
Sometimes, showing up imperfectly is far more powerful than not showing up at all.
3. The Mountain Built from Pebbles
This idea closely reflects the philosophy behind Atomic Habits by James Clear. Small actions, repeated daily, compound in ways that are almost invisible at first.
One line, one paragraph, one short practice session... Each action feels insignificant on its own. But together, they create momentum.
Consistency is less about intensity and more about continuity. When you refuse to “break the chain,” even by doing the minimum, you build trust with yourself.
Over months and years, those small efforts become a substantial body of work, a mountain quietly built from pebbles.
Key Takeaways
Lower the bar on hard days. Make the task so small it feels almost effortless. Protect the streak is the most important thing when it comes to build a productive habit.
Maintaining the rhythm matters more than producing something extraordinary once.
If you’re struggling to maintain a routine, don’t search for more motivation. Instead, search for smaller steps.
Don’t aim to run the marathon today. Just put on your shoes and decide whether you want to go outside or stay inside.
Professional growth isn’t built in dramatic bursts. It’s built in quiet, repeatable moments of showing up, even when you only have five minutes.
And those five minutes matter more than you think!
Do you guys have any habits you build up? Or you just quit after a week or two? Let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
